Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's initial increased rating for left knee disability prior to February 2, 2016, is denied. A separate 20 percent evaluation for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the left knee prior to February 2, 2016, is granted. The Veteran's status post total left knee arthroplasty from April 1, 2017, warrants a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at a separate 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. A temporary total rating for a total right knee replacement was granted effective December 16, 2013. The Veteran also received a 30 percent disability rating following a period of temporary total rating due to convalescence for his right knee post-traumatic osteoarthritis prior to July 11, 2019.,The appeal is remanded as the issues regarding entitlement to increased ratings and service connection are not fully addressed.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and increased ratings for his back disability. The Board finds that the claims are not properly before it due to procedural issues.,The Veteran's appeal of an earlier effective date for his bilateral knee disabilities constitutes a freestanding effective date claim, which VA has no authority to adjudicate.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg joint condition, including osteoarthritis of the right knee and/or hip, as secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain disability.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral artery disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, amputation below the right knee, and amputation below the left knee as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The initial disability rating for diabetes remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee disorder, finding that it did not begin during service or manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Board determined that the post-service injury in 1999 was the cause of his current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period prior to June 1, 2015, excluding periods of temporary total ratings for his right knee disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for left knee disability, back pain, and headaches were reopened and granted.

Service connection for a respiratory disability is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for left elbow, insomnia (claimed as mental health disorder), and gastrointestinal disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder are denied. A temporary total evaluation due to right elbow surgery is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and tinnitus for further development. The issues remain on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with sleep disturbance was rated at 70 percent from October 15, 2016 to August 13, 2018. The Board found that the severity, frequency and duration of his PTSD symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates and service connection for Graves' disease, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to clarify the Veteran's right knee disability diagnosis.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 30 percent rating for instability since February 7, 2021. The Board has remanded the cases of increased ratings for degenerative joint disease from May 15, 2009 to August 20, 2021 and from August 20, 2021 to January 24, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disorder and its relationship to his service-connected left knee condition. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to provide medical records and a VA examination is required.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. Ratings for chondromalacia of the right and left knees are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and left knee strain is remanded due to the need for VA examinations. The claims are not currently decided as they have been previously denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for increased ratings was denied as the evidence did not show that the Veteran met the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to January 31, 2018, in excess of 10 percent prior to July 5, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current skin disorder or headaches at any time during the pendency of the claim.